Shopping for Clothes

Blue_Doggy

Now that we have the ban on plastic bags, I'm having problems shopping for clothes. I always carry a foldaway bag in my handbag for grocery-type shopping of the unplanned sort (it doesn't hold much, so it's very money-saving), but I find myself a bit stymied when it comes to buying clothes. The shop assistants fold them up on the counter, and then there's no bag to put them in except my grocery bag, which may or may not be very clean - depending on what I last bought. They don't seem to offer even a paper bag or a sheet of paper to wrap them in - I suppose I should take my own sheets of paper and ask them to wrap the clothes in that.

Today it was raining, and my little bag isn't waterproof, so I wasn't able to buy a couple of items I needed. (saved my money, but I needed the items and shall have to go out - by car - to get them another day.)

How do other people manage? Do you carry plastic bags with you, or how do you cope?

Islandmaid

It wouldn't worry me I always wash my clothes purchases before wearing them - if you overly concerned it's worth the 5p isn't it?

elsien

Take two bags?
One for groceries and one for t'other stuff.

jackieblack

I have a bag which I use only for clothes so it stays clean inside.
It's one of those bags that folds up really small into it's own little pouch.

jackieblack

Blue_Doggy wrote: »

Today it was raining, and my little bag isn't waterproof, so I wasn't able to buy a couple of items I needed. (saved my money, but I needed the items and shall have to go out - by car - to get them another day.)

That's not very MSE. Going out by car will cost you more than the 5p (or 10p for a stronger 'bag for life' type) would have done :huh:

Blue_Doggy

Islandmaid - they never offer the bags, even for 5p, so i don't think they're always available. Yes, the way clothes are displayed means they have to be washed first but it's nice not to have crumbs, or old leaked milk as well.

elsien - good idea, I'll have to find another small one, and label it so I don't use it for dirty stuff.

jackieblack - yes, my groceries bag is one of those foldaway bags (I have several) but not waterproof. I guess I could line the second one and label it "for clothes only". In fact I could keep a couple of sheets of tissue paper in it too for the assistants to wrap the clothes in.

I don't buy clothes very often, (retired, with a very quiet lifestyle) so when I do I'm in unfamiliar territory . There's always on-line, but then you can't see the fabric or the finish etc.

Blue_Doggy

jackieblack wrote: »

That's not very MSE. Going out by car will cost you more than the 5p (or 10p for a stronger 'bag for life' type) would have done :huh:

Well, yes, and it'll cost for parking too. The clothes shops don't offer bags (at any price), only the food shops do.

dylan2011

Every clothes shop I go in has bags. I just ask for one and they give one. (usually 5 or 10p)

VfM4meplse

As of 5th Oct 15 I have always carried one of these, with multiple plastic bags inside for items I wish to separate (clothing store bags for clothes, old supermarket bags for life for groceries).



I bought it from what was then the 99p shop in cute purple butterfly and pink flower patterns. Since then I have bought different girly designs, for no other reason than I like them. They are incredibly hard wearing and can carry a huge amount of weight, and I keep one in the car and several on hooks in the hall.

june89

The clothes shops have bags, but their staff are likely trained not to offer them due to the new rules. But it's a charge not a ban, so just ask for one if you're stuck without a spare/clean reusable bag. If you really needed the items, 5p is definitely better than making two trips!

I order most of my clothes online (free returns, so no issue with not being able to try/feel things - I'm fussy about fabrics too) but if I do happen to buy something in store, I either pop it in my fold up bag that's almost always in my handbag or pay for a store bag if I forgot. My bag is wipe clean so very rarely dirty but I could always carry two if I was concerned as they're quite small. I take separate bags when I go grocery shopping, so that one is normally for incidental purchases anyway.

Upsidedown_Bear

Blue_Doggy wrote: »

Well, yes, and it'll cost for parking too. The clothes shops don't offer bags (at any price), only the food shops do.

Which clothes shops? :think:
Every clothes shop I've bought clothes in since the 5p charge came in have asked me if I want a bag.
"Would you like a 5p bag?" is what I usually get asked.